Merthyr Tydfil residents are being asked for their opinions on how the Council should spend its 2018/19 budget.

The authority would like to hear local people’s views on what they think should be the priorities during another year in which savings will have to be found due to a reduction in funding from Welsh Government.

An extensive consultation exercise. which takes place from 21st November, 2017 until 12th February, 2018, will include engagement events across the County Borough where Cabinet members will be available to listen to questions from members of the public and take any suggestions back for discussion.

The Council will use its website and social media accounts – Merthyr Tydfil CBC on Facebook and @MerthyrCBC on Twitter – to inform residents about how they can take part in the consultation and when events are being held.

Merthyr Tydfil received a -1% Revenue Settlement for 2018/19, a cash reduction of £906,000 from 2017/18. This is the worst Settlement for 3 years and results in Merthyr Tydfil having to achieve further budget reductions of £2.9 million to balance the books for 2018/19. This continuation of austerity means that reductions to services provided to the community are inevitable.

The indicative Settlement for the following year 2019/20 is a further reduction of -1.5%, a further cash reduction of £1.3 million, resulting in further required budget reductions of £4 million again impacting upon services provided to our communities.

Please come along to one of our budget events to have your say on the budget setting process.